Flash: Rebirth #6 Review

The conclusion to the Johns/Van Sciver mini-series is finally here.

It doesn't bode well for a series when a reader can't recall when the last issue came out, never mind remembering the actual content of said issue. In the case of Flash Rebirth, these problems are only compounded by the manner in which Geoff Johns utilizes time travel as an instrument to fiddle with Barry Allen's origins. As a result it's not clear whether or not Johns' latest bout of character revitalization can be called a resounding triumph.

To begin with, several story beats in this issue left me scratching my head. In fact, I felt compelled to go back and reread the series from issue one before I wrote my review in order to properly consider this issue. Johns set out to accomplish a lot throughout the course of this series and while most of the concepts he deals with here go a long way toward rejuvenating the franchise, the remainder of them fall flat due to their complex nature.

Throughout Rebirth, Johns frequently addresses the idea that the Flashes' greatest weakness is a result of their need to slow down in order to escape their own solitude. In this final issue that Achilles' heel is brought full circle and embraced in a way that feels appropriate to Barry's journey. Johns' script is at its best when it directly addresses this theme, and fortunately it resonates through the majority of this issue.

Less successful has been Johns' work with Eobard Thawne. By drawing comparisons earlier in the series between Professor Zoom and the Joker, the writer set the bar unnecessarily high for himself. Having Zoom travel through time to entrench himself in pivotal events in Barry's life fail to add any dramatic weight to the character. Additionally, the role the climactic battle here seems to play in Barry's own origin sets up a chicken and the egg paradox that is nothing if not headache inducing. Had Johns merely cast Thawne as Barry's mirror-image rogue, many of these confusing story beats could have been avoided.

Equally as perplexing is Johns' exploration of the Speed Force. Throughout Rebirth the Speed Force has been utilized as a plot device to explain the inexplicable. Irey's transformation into Impulse? Speed Force. New costumes? Speed Force. Many of these developments have been welcome ones, particularly the transformation of Wally's daughter, but utilizing the Speed Force as a catch-all justification seems contrary to introducing new readers to the franchise. A simplification of this concept would have gone a long way toward validating the existence of this series.

Ethan Van Sciver's art in this issue is a joy to behold as always. His splash pages and layouts have contributed a great deal to my overall enjoyment of this series. Scott Hanna steps in to assist with inking duties in this issue and his work is noticeably different to the pages inked by Van Sciver. I can't help but wonder why the extra time wasn't given to Van Sciver to just finish the series on his own. Would anyone have noticed if this issue had been delayed for an additional week or two?

Overall, I've found the majority of Rebirth to be enjoyable. The final issue, despite its flaws, provided a fitting close to the character's journey here while still teasing at what's to come. Even though Johns' exploration of the character wasn't as systematic as I was hoping it would be, it certainly left me anxious to see where he'll take the franchise in the future.